Thoughts on Ensnaring Bridge in Modern?
Modern forum
Posted on Feb. 5, 2015, 11:35 a.m. by InnerFlame
Hey everyone,
The question is what the title says. I'm working on bringing my modern deck to the next level and just had this thought.
How about 2 Ensnaring Bridge copies in the sideboard of a burn deck? Other than other burn, tokens, and a few homebrew decks that swarm, what decks will be able to handle not attacking against burn? Burn goes through their hand fast, so why not sideboard some Ensnaring Bridge in against favorable matchups. The only thing is that it does cost 3 and may just end up being removed.
I don't know if I'm the first to think about this, but i just wanted to hear some opinions on it.
TheAnnihilator says... #3
I don't think Burn cares about it's own life total. So, running Bridge may not be necessary.
February 5, 2015 11:40 a.m.
TheAnnihilator says... #4
You may as well just run some Pyroclasms/Anger of the Gods sideboard for matches when your life total actually matters. That or Smash to Smithereens.
I'm honestly having trouble imagining a time when Burn needs to deter creatures rather than just cast Lightning Bolt, Slow Lightning Bolt (Lava Spike), Delayed Lightning Bolt (Rift Bolt), Black Lightning Bolt (Bump in the Night), or Risky Lightning Bolt (Shard Volley) at their opponent's face. Does burn even run Creature Lightning Bolt (Spark Elemental) anymore?
February 5, 2015 11:52 a.m.
InnerFlame says... #5
It's not necessarily to save my life total. It's to save the pilot when they are forced to top deck and it's not really working due to playing against control, top decking lands, or just any other various reasons for not having the opponent within kill range.
I worry that it's just too slow which is why it would probably be best against control.
February 5, 2015 11:52 a.m.
greenkingwashere says... #7
Ensnaring bridge is a crazy awesome card in 8-Rack and stuff, and if you're in a aggro heavy meta its a good idea in burn IF you can empty your hand quickly.
February 5, 2015 11:59 a.m.
InnerFlame says... #8
Yeah i mean that's the thing, it really all depends on getting the hand out fast enough and the pilot will probably want a Eidolon of the Great Revel in play too. Those are my only worries about that. I just think it makes the late game relevant. But at the same time it goes against burn in that it shouldn't get to the late game. So by side boarding it it's pretty much saying I'm expecting my deck to fail....I'm torn guys.
February 5, 2015 12:04 p.m.
TheAnnihilator says... #9
I don't know. Against control, you kindof just want to topdeck burn spells and end the game. Topdecking Ensnaring Bridge against UWR is just going to eat a counterspell very quickly, I'd imagine. Well, in a perfect world (I play UWR).
A resolved Bridge still won't kill your opponent either. I would say, don't screw around, just kill them. Even landing a Bridge, you'd be giving them time to draw into more counterspells, Lightning Helix, and those precious 2-of Sphinx's Revelations. In that case, you still can't really win.
February 5, 2015 12:07 p.m.
InnerFlame says... #10
That's a good point TheAnnihilator. I guess I just have trouble trusting the top deck haha. And adjusting to living in a world without Treasure Cruise
February 5, 2015 12:10 p.m.
TheAnnihilator says... #11
xD Just run Burning Earth against them! It's perfect!
February 5, 2015 12:13 p.m.
Nigeltastic says... #14
Do we know if burn lists are considering Collateral Damage at all? It's another bolt and they seem to run about 12 creatures now anyway, so the extra cost shouldn't matter.
February 5, 2015 1:50 p.m.
All burn lists have run 12 creatures for a long time. That's not enough to warrant collateral damage.
February 5, 2015 1:59 p.m.
TurboFagoot says... #16
Burn lists would rather play Shard Volley. Easier to play consistently than Collateral Damage. And while Volley is run, it's almost never run as a four of. You just don't don't need that many bolts in the deck. Especially super conditional ones.
February 5, 2015 2:18 p.m.
InnerFlame says... #17
When a burn deck is willing to sac a land over anything else, that's your sign haha.
February 5, 2015 2:39 p.m.
Ensnaring Bridge is a good card to have if folks start reanimating things fast. Say like a super fast(T2-3) Griselbrand/Emmy/Iona or some such like they do in Legacy. Thats the reason I run 2 in my Legacy burn deck, but in modern it's not really needed right now.
Ohthenoises says... #2
8 rack loves bridge so it's a known quantity.
It wouldn't be terrible in burn but usually burn doesn't care about their own life total.
I'd say try it, see how it works.
February 5, 2015 11:39 a.m.